tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post8862738832186459260..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Taking Control: Revising From Agent or Editor FeedbackJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-2602832016373754002014-03-14T15:10:35.834-04:002014-03-14T15:10:35.834-04:00Late comments are good, I see them all, even if I&...Late comments are good, I see them all, even if I'm late responding myself :) <br /><br />Anyone who asks you for a rewrite is never going to say that to you, so no worries there. Worst case, they'll say it's not quite right still, or it wasn't what they were thinking. If they took the time to ask for a rewrite, then they saw value in the work. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-25157792989153057112014-03-09T14:27:43.602-04:002014-03-09T14:27:43.602-04:00I'm commenting WAY after the original post. ;-...I'm commenting WAY after the original post. ;-) I was an editor and am a lawyer, who's done lots of legal writing. My skin has toughened to being asked to rewrite something. My fear is going back to overhaul and fold in crits and finding I don't have the creative mojo to pull off the changes. <br /><br />My WIP is "done," meaning I've typed to "THE END." I finished at 92,000-ish words and have cut it down to 84,000-ish. After my dialogue edit (to remove "reader benefit" conversation and diatribes), I know the word count will drop more. If I get lucky enough to find representation, I hope to be able to pull off any overhauls I'm asked to do. <br /><br />I believe an objective editor's feedback is priceless, and I want to climb the hills s/he sends me up and finish on top. I dread, "Sorry. This isn't a good rewrite. Come back when you have talent." ;-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14752361332288260099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39621086288990317442011-10-17T10:53:37.033-04:002011-10-17T10:53:37.033-04:00Great quote! That's one to stick on the monito...Great quote! That's one to stick on the monitor for sure.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-47072441434577882282011-10-13T13:39:23.675-04:002011-10-13T13:39:23.675-04:00Great advice! So many aspiring writers need to hea...Great advice! So many aspiring writers need to hear this-- sometimes it's difficult to keep an objective eye and see the usefulness of constructive criticism. But I'm agreed 100%--the feedback I've received on my novel has always opened my eyes as to how I can make the content better. As my grandfather once said, "When you stop getting better, you stop being good."The Writer Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05532839053876490957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-31209938184489790722011-09-27T08:17:40.837-04:002011-09-27T08:17:40.837-04:00I already revise a lot so it doesn't bother me...I already revise a lot so it doesn't bother me. The more specfic the suggestions the better for me. Thanks for the tips.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-51676587591241370552011-09-21T22:09:26.976-04:002011-09-21T22:09:26.976-04:00Thanks for the support, Janice.
But I just wish w...Thanks for the support, Janice.<br /><br />But I just wish what you said was as straightforward to do as it is to say.<br /><br />It still wouldn't be easy, but at least it would feel less esoteric, you know?Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-36796184814688843462011-09-21T09:45:46.710-04:002011-09-21T09:45:46.710-04:00So true Angela. Any time I've ever ignore my g...So true Angela. Any time I've ever ignore my gut it's come back to bite me. <br /><br />Amelia, grats! That's a great step :)<br /><br />MK: I love crits, even when they're rough. At least then I know where I need to go to fix something. I enjoy revisions myself. But for me, they're more part of the writing process than just revising. Maybe that's why? <br /><br />Paul & Sheri, probably a good habit really. Sometimes I get excited by a comment and jump in without thinking things all the way through and then have to change what I just changed.<br /><br />Taurean, crits can be hard and one of the stepping stones if a writer's journey is to learn both how to give and take feedback. Don't beat yourself up over it if you're still working on that part. It's one of the harder steps. <br /><br />Critiquing others is a good learning tool, but if you're still learning things yourself it can indeed lead to frustration. A good group can be hard to find, but worth it when you do.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-80822740553591334042011-09-20T14:27:26.087-04:002011-09-20T14:27:26.087-04:00I wish this post was around ages ago.
It touches ...I wish this post was around ages ago.<br /><br />It touches on many of the reasons why I had to leave my last critique group. <br /><br />Part of it was my inability to keep up with our critique schedule like I once did.<br /><br />But also because as hard as I tried, I don't think I'm an effective critique partner, but I'm still trying to improve there.<br /><br />While it's no secret I don't always (Sometimes I do!) take criticism gracefully, at least in the moment, what's even harder for me is when I'm the one critiquing others work. In my old critique group, I always felt I was the weakest link.<br /><br />The reason is because all the things I struggle with are their strengths.<br /><br />But when I'm ready to join another group, I'm determined to sharpen these skills.<br /><br />My last group did help me a lot, especially with the support aspect of our group, and they were the first writers I'd ever clicked with who understood my niche and didn't belittle it.<br /><br />While people always say critiquing the work of others makes your work better, I haven't experienced that often, as great as my last group really was.<br /><br />But I'm a slow learner with this kind of thing.<br /><br />So I'm not final on this feeling yet.<br /><br />One thing's for sure, Janice, I wouldn't endure all the criticism and all the times I shoot myself in the foot, if I didn't love what the end result can be if I don't quit.<br /><br />I had to put my blogging on hold, but when it resumes again, I hope to have a better understanding of what I struggle with now, how to deal with it, and can share ways we can all stay centered.<br /><br />Ciao for now,<br />TaureanTaurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-64678409214798712132011-09-19T14:20:26.834-04:002011-09-19T14:20:26.834-04:00Hi Janice ~ Like Paul, I'll think about the cr...Hi Janice ~ Like Paul, I'll think about the crit before I act on it. Not everything pointed out is necessarily right. And questioning that which you don't understand can help too. Great post.Sheri Fredrickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03994182452859135844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-59822757990969385492011-09-19T12:25:09.156-04:002011-09-19T12:25:09.156-04:00I did comment, but Blogger seems to have lost it. ...I did comment, but Blogger seems to have lost it. :-(<br /><br />I find that when I get crit back, I need to read it once then sleep on it before even thinking about how to apply it in edits. My initial reaction is usually fear that I'm going to mess everything up, so taking the time to build that distance between the comments and the work is important.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-22292126976400831512011-09-19T12:22:50.513-04:002011-09-19T12:22:50.513-04:00Good critiques help a story become the best versio...Good critiques help a story become the best version of itself, and that's what I want. If my writing isn't communicating well, then it's not the story I'm trying to tell anyway. I also really like revising...so maybe that's why this doesn't sound so scary.MKHutchinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07715686902529938959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-81441032928205676102011-09-19T12:13:10.376-04:002011-09-19T12:13:10.376-04:00Yeah, it stings! But after a day of mulling it ove...Yeah, it stings! But after a day of mulling it over, something pops into my head and I think, "Oh, yeah! Why didn't I think of that?" <br /><br />It's true that when we are daily in our own work, we can become myopic. An outside voice can help us see clearly what needs to be tightened, cleaned up, expanded upon and even deleted. Did I just say that?<br /><br />Wow! I've come a long way in the last year to actually admit that its good to delete. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14324491231695823916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-2102268787460101882011-09-19T12:04:04.090-04:002011-09-19T12:04:04.090-04:00I agree with this 100%. I've had revision situ...I agree with this 100%. I've had revision situations where an editor made a change suggestion that would completely change the audience and type of book I was writing...and I stuck to my guns and kept it for the intended market. I've also had revision feedback where a refocusing suggestion was absolutely the right call to maximize the audience and create greater appeal. It's all about listening to one's gut. :)<br /><br />Angela @ The Bookshelf MuseAngela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-47849869092562365332009-10-11T08:08:48.905-04:002009-10-11T08:08:48.905-04:00Michelle, I'm the same way. I get so excited w...Michelle, I'm the same way. I get so excited when someone points out something I hadn't thought of or seen, and it triggers all sorts of great ideas.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-44681602070944259382009-10-10T11:40:37.437-04:002009-10-10T11:40:37.437-04:00Honestly, I like crits. I'm not saying I'm...Honestly, I like crits. I'm not saying I'm super-thick skinned, because it does hurt sometimes, but I like watching the book get better, and I actually like the revision process a lot. It's like the puzzle pieces are all there, I just have to make them fit. Or make them fit better.Michellehttp://yahighway.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-76449723980943717162009-10-08T09:29:18.300-04:002009-10-08T09:29:18.300-04:00Critiques can be rough, especially when they'r...Critiques can be rough, especially when they're telling us to change something we've slaved over. I'm not always successful (some have made me cry), but I try to look at tough crits and think "Okay, I obviously didn't quite do what I was after, so how can I make this work?" Helps me take it less personally and keep the focus on the words.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-68000573864742535392009-10-07T20:51:29.225-04:002009-10-07T20:51:29.225-04:00I have been told to revise extensively. It hurts.....I have been told to revise extensively. It hurts...badly, but I have to agree that most suggestions are well worth taking into consideration. I agree, though, I am God in my MS and I decide who lives or dies.Tina Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05914428134837892539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-22932382915730231522009-10-07T10:30:36.971-04:002009-10-07T10:30:36.971-04:00I would be very happy to revise my work to make it...I would be very happy to revise my work to make it stronger. I've rewritten most of my early work, though I don't feel that is up to the mark even yet. I'd love to work with someone who knows more about the market.<br /><br />Revising when you know you are making the novel better is fun!Deb Salisbury, Magic Seeker and Mantua-Makerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01513482264195697450noreply@blogger.com